Animal Use in Science

Despite that fact that animal experiments lack human relevance, are expensive and time-consuming, and pose ethical challenges, animal use in science (i.e. in research, testing and education) is widely practiced in the United States and around the world.

It is estimated that over 100 million animals are used in science every year in the multibillion dollar research industry that includes universities, pharmaceutical and diagnostic laboratories, and military, agricultural and marine mammal facilities. But because the most commonly used animals—rats, mice and birds—are not counted, the exact number is not known.

The scope of animal use in science today includes virtually every field of investigation. Click below to learn more about animal use in science in:

Research:
Animals are used in basic and biomedical research, behavioral research, military research, agricultural research, veterinary research, and drug development and testing.

Testing:
Animals are used to test the safety of chemicals, household products, personal care products and cosmetics.

Education:
Animals are used to teach the life sciences as dissection specimens in science classrooms, in science fair projects and in graduate training courses.